Ferguson sets three defeats target
United suffered their fifth defeat of the Premiership campaign - and their first at home in 12 months - when Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
The victory extended the new champions’ lead over United to an incredible 20 points, raising huge question marks over the ability of Ferguson’s men to mount any kind of sustained title challenge next season.
However, the manager is convinced man for man United are Chelsea’s equal. But it has not gone unnoticed in the Old Trafford camp that after Arsenal’s historic unbeaten campaign 12 months ago, Mourinho’s men head into the final game at Newcastle having suffered just one defeat all season, against Manchester City in October.
Those combined efforts leave Ferguson to acknowledge that a repeat of the early trauma that saw United collect just six points from their opening five games cannot be tolerated.
“We always say it is a marathon not a sprint, but now I have to question that kind of thinking because Chelsea this season turned it into a sprint from start to finish.
“It is harder to win the league now. Maybe we are getting to a point where you cannot afford any more than three defeats in a season, which makes it a hell of a league.
“There is no doubt Chelsea have raised the bar. It is up to us to accept the challenge and do something about it.”
Ferguson has been very careful not to downplay Chelsea’s achievements and refuses to join the army of critics who have condemned the London outfit for the amount of Roman Abramovich’s cash spent securing a first championship for 50 years.
Given the vast transfer budgets Ferguson has enjoyed down the years, he is probably wise to steer such a route. Nevertheless, he does wonder whether the good fortune he believes Chelsea enjoyed, similar to that United have benefited from in the past, can hold.
“You cannot dismiss Chelsea’s points total and they deserve all the credit,” he said.
“But sometimes, you do have a season when everything goes right, just as we did in 1999. Chelsea have had 16 1-0 wins and they have not conceded a penalty kick. It is a fantastic record, but can it happen again? Next season, who knows, it might be us who get the breaks they have had this year.”
This summer, nothing is being left to chance. With the exception of Gabriel Heinze and Tim Howard, who will be required for international competitions, the United squad will report back for pre-season training on June 27. It gives them three weeks preparation before a couple of domestic friendlies and a four-match Asian tour which come ahead of a crucial Champions League qualifier on August 10 and the start of the Premiership programme three days later.
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